WotC release schedule thru 2005

[scourger]

Over on the WotC boards Rich Baker has said that Sons of Gruumsh isn't part of a series but is just a stand alone adventure.

Well, that is less comforting. I would like to see them do an adventure series for The Realms.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

FYI, Champions of Valor draws on some of the BOED, but it's much more than just "the Book of Exalted Deeds translated to/crammed into FR." It does spend some time talking about what it is to be a valorous hero in FR (rather than just a good character), but it also gives a bunch of new feats, spells, magic items, new character regions (like "raised by the church of Selûne" as your region, no matter what country you're in), large and small writeups of valorous organizations in the Realms, substitution levels for many of those organization, a handful of prestige classes (yes, really only a handful), valorous locations, valorous NPCs (for cohorts or contacts), and valorous-appropriate creatures (like alternate paladin mounts). It's a book for PCs who want to run valorous characters and a book for DMs on how to run campaigns with valorous characters.

Would it be accurate to say that "valorous" as a descriptor is somewhere between "good" and "exalted" with an emphasis on actually going out there and fighting courageously to make a difference?

 

[megamania]

many books worth thumbing through. as we get closer I'll wait for reviews. Still- it looks good.

 

[Psion]

No offense, but it's very clear that anyone who could write a statement like this doesn't write for a living.

Why do you think there are hundreds or thousands of wanna-be novelists for everyone one who makes it? Solid flavor (I refuse to use the word "fluff") is one of the hardest things in the world to write, if you want to do it well.

That's not me saying good crunch is easy; but it's nonsense to claim that good flavor's not just as hard.

I think you are conflating two different considerations there.

Good flavor is hard. I used to think that pretty much flavor/fluff/supporting text sucked in D&D/d20 books. Then Book of Taverns sort of changed my perspective. It showed me that the reason I thought that was that most people just didn't do it good.

That said, I do think that while good flavor text takes an amount of skill than many would be game authors lack, rules have an inevitable amount of research and coordination and (too often skipped) playtesting that are easy to flub up if you aren't astute and willing to spend some time with it.

I guess the point I would try to bring home here is that if you think either one is easy, you probably aren't doing it right.

 

[Mercule]

D&D Magic of Incarnum - 9/9 -- Probably not, but waiting for more info.

D&D Fantastic Locations: Fane of the Drow - 9/9 -- I don't use or like drow, so a no-go for me.

d20 Cyberspace - 9/9 -- Sounds interesting. I'll probably cycle to the new WoD before doing d20 Modern/Future, though.

FRR Sons of Gruumsh: FR Adventure Path #1 - 9/9 -- FR. Blech.

D&D Heroes of Horror - 10/14 -- Oh, yeah. The first book on the list that I'm actually excited about. Unfortunately, all of my players have said they do not want strong elements of horror or dark fantasy in the mix. *sigh*

D&D Special Edition DMG - 10/14 -- DMG + leatherbound + $70+ pricetag = sucker. The most I'd pay for the dubious upgrades is an extra $10.

D&D Gift Set - 10/14 -- Dunno what it is. If it's a leatherbound set of the three core books, then I might (but probably won't) get it, depending on price.

EBR Magic of Eberron - 10/14 -- Really depends on what they do with it. I'm not a huge fan of magic or spellcasters, so I've got no interest in a compendium of spells and items. If they spend half the book on Dragonshards and other Eberron uniqueness, then I may get it.

D&D Fantastic Locations: Hellspike Prison - 11/4 -- Meh. We'll see.

FRR Champions of Valor - 11/4 -- As before: FR = blech.

D&D Miniatures Underdark - 11/5 -- Probably end up with a case. But, I'll have to see the previews, since I don't actually like the concept of the Underdark. If it's filled with drow, duergar, svirfneblin, and aberrations, I'll pass.

D&D Spell Compendium - 12/2 -- I've got too many spells, already. I also rule that non-PHB spells are "special" and not available without DM approval, anyway.

d20 Critical Locations - 12/2 -- Doubtful, as we don't do much with d20 Modern/Future (despite my desire).

 

[Belen]

Ok, who ressurected the thread. This one was meant for the graveyard months ago.

 

[qstor]

D&D Fantastic Locations: Fane of the Drow - 9/9 -- I don't use or like drow, so a no-go for me.

Anyone know anything more about this one?

Mike

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

Hi-

Stupid question; I have Lords of Darkness, so is WoTC's Champions of Ruin just a rehash of LoD?
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the Waterdeep supplement, hopefully one day they might do a Westgate city guide too.

Scott

 

[JoeGKushner]

I believe that the new book is much more focused on players as evil as opposed to Lords of Darkness which was a DM resource.

I'm looking forward to Waterdeep, but it looks like a pretty big price increase if current info is current as it's 160 pages vs the 192 we've been seeing for the price point. (Unless I'm mistaken on that price point.)

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

I believe that the new book is much more focused on players as evil as opposed to Lords of Darkness which was a DM resource.

I'm looking forward to Waterdeep, but it looks like a pretty big price increase if current info is current as it's 160 pages vs the 192 we've been seeing for the price point. (Unless I'm mistaken on that price point.)

Hey Joe-

Your going to be sorely missed in tuesday's D&D session when the players might have to deal with that Balor..........

anyway, Save your money and forgo stuff like LoM, Sandstorm, and what not. So far my list of things to buy is very short, The Waterdeep book plus a a few Eberron expansions is all I really want. Anything else I can use my imagination for.


Scott